Our favourite Book to Screen adaptations

By The Bookery

Not all books translate well to the screen, but sometimes you can find a real winner. Here's some of our favourite books that have been adapted brilliantly...

It's unusual for a YA novel to be adapted in a way that doesn't tone it down to 12A, which is perhaps why this brilliant film struggled to find its audience. Meg Rosoff is a massively under-read author, and despite it changing aspects of the story, the film captures the essence of this uncomfortable and evocative book.

The Lord of the Rings

J. R. R. Tolkien

£25.00 £23.75

Although looked down on by some, these films brought Tolkein to a whole new audience and were obviously made by people who really loved the books.

Persepolis I & II

Marjane Satrapi

£10.99 £10.44

The animation style of the film really complements the illustration of the graphic novels, without taking away any of the depth and complexity of the story.

Scott Pilgrim Color Collection Vol. 1

Bryan Lee O'Malley

£26.99 £25.64

Edgar Wright totally got the tone of these graphic novels, which turn the pretty average life of a bit of a loser into an epic comic book style fight.

Jurassic Park

Michael Crichton

£9.99 £9.49

Great entertainment as both book and film.

Howl's Moving Castle

Diana Wynne Jones

£7.99 £7.59

Studio Ghibli's beautiful take on Diana Wynne Jones's children's novel is as successful as it is unlikely.

Into the Wild

Jon Krakauer

£10.99

We've included this one because the film makers' editorial decisions make for interesting discussion, and reignited a continuing and fierce debate about whether Chris McCandless was a visionary or an imbecile.

Anna Karenina

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy

£24.13

There's no way to adapt this massive novel without making some pretty hefty cuts, but the stylisation of Joe Wright's 2012 version captures the atmosphere of opulence and despair.

The Gormenghast Trilogy

Mervyn Peake

£25.00 £23.75

The BBC's Gormenghast adaptation really captures Peake's vision of a world simultaneously repugnant and appealing. Just like Fuscia - with how small a twist may it not suddenly have become beautiful.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell

Susanna Clarke

£12.99 £12.34

Necessarily abridged, but totally in keeping with the spirit and atmosphere of the books.

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